Wow, I can't believe it, I am actually going to a game today! September just didn't happen for me this year, all those Cup games I had lined up but in the end I just couldn't see for one reason or another.
I have decided to see 2 teams I have never seen before who are taking part in an early season basement battle in the Midland Combination Premier, namely Blackwood v Castle Vale JKS. Indeed Castle Vale JKS did actually finish bottom last season but earned a reprieve presumably because Bloxwich United went out of existence.
It's a game that's easy to get to for a rail traveller like me, as Blackwood play at The Coppice ground of Highgate United of which they are tenants and it's located a few minutes walk away from Whitlock's End station which is right on the south-east outskirts of Birmingham on the line to Stratford-on-Avon.
I get to Whitlock's End at 2:30pm and as I walk out of the station I can see the ground of Shirley Town, another Midland Combination team and as I cross over to Tythe Barn Lane, I pass the ground of a womens team called Leafield Athletic on my left. It's a nice rural location but I admit I am not that impressed by The Coppice ground. It has a covered area along the entire nearest side as you approach the pitch, with seating available for one half of it. The club house and changing rooms are near the entrance and there are several full size and mini-soccer pitches there too.
As Highgate are going very well in the Midland Alliance at present I don't think they have much chance of achieving promotion if they win their championship, if they wish to do so.
I see from the programme that prior to last season, Blackwood had gained 3 successive promiotions, quite a feat!
So 3:00pm arrives and Blackwood take to the field in their Inter Milan style
kit and Castle Vale in blue and yellow. The crowd looks to be in the region of 25-30.
Blackwood dominate most of the early play but it's Vale who take the lead in the 11th minute when their centre-forward is left with an easy close range header.
For the rest of this half Blackwood are just the better team and look more likely to score.
(The Castle Vale keeper clings on to this Blackwood cross)
Blackwood do score a deserved equaliser in the 41st minute, I think it's their No.6 sweetly turning on the edge of the penalty area and slotting the ball in to the top right hand corner of the net.
Even-stevens at half time and everything to play for!
During the interval I notice that there is a rugby match taking place on the pitch at the back of us behind the hedge. Yes,there are plenty of different clubs in this area.
The second-half is quite even but Blackwood seeming to be the more dangerous side. One of the features of the game for me is the contest between the Vale centre-half and captain versus the dangerous looking Blackwood No.9. It's the No.9 who has Blackwood's best effort in this half when he shoots from about 20 yards out and the Vale keeper makes a great save to turn it around the post. Another player who catches my eye is the No11 for Castle Vale, very lively and good dribbling skills.
Disaster strikes for Blackwood with 10 minutes to go when one of their defenders in trying to clear the ball from his penalty area just skies the ball straight in to the air and Vale's, Jem Mills is waiting to head in to the net.
After this Castle Vale comfortably keep Blackwood at bay for a win that sees them leapfrog their opponents, who must feel they don't deserve to lose this contest.
So it's hard luck Blackwood and on this showing it looks as if both teams will struggle again this season.
Many apologies again for any readers of this Blog, as I have had ongoing problems with my mobile broadband provider on receiving a reliable signal over the last 3 weeks. Anyhow here is my 'latest' entry.
I am making my way by bus today to Evesham to see United in action against Bolehall Swifts from the Midland Combination in the FA Cup Prelim Rd. On paper it should be straight forward for Evesham but they have had an unspectacular start to their season while Bolehall have been banging in the goals so far.
It's a great day weather-wise and I have a look round the town before setting off on the 25 minute walk to the Jubilee Stadium on the Cheltenham Road, right on the southern edge of the town.
Evesham is a pleasant town with nice architecture in the centre and fine walks along the nearby River Avon. There is still work being done on the river bridge but a footbridge has been constructed for pedestrians until the work has been completed in November, so I'm told.
So I arrive at the ground with 25 minutes before kick-off. This stadium was opened, just at the start of last season. On the northern side is the entrance and a covered end for spectators while on the left (eastern side of the ground) are the club house and a covered seated stand, while the other 2 sides are open to the elements with a good view of Bredon Hill to the south west.
Evesham have come out in their usual red & white stripes and Bolehall in an all yellow strip.
Evesham have started brightly and have had the first shot on goal but from then on Bolehall start to control the game.
They are more composed on the ball while Evesham are struggling to create any constructive moves.
It's not much of a surprise when 'The Swifts' take the lead after 21 minutes when their No 9, Chris Sturridge-Packer, tucks the ball awat from close range, (shown celebrating, below).
Near half-time another Bolehall shot goes just the wrong side of the post!
So to the 2nd-half and Evesham Utd make an immediate substition, with Carl Brown coming on and his pace makes an immediate impact. He scores after outpacing the Bolehall defence and buries a shot past Mc.Nulty.
Bolehall are still dangerous on the break and go very close with a oneon-one with the keeper.
Evesham take the lead on 63 minutes with Marcus Palmer converting a cross from close range. Evesham are well on top at this stage and Bolehall are desperately pumping the ball forward at every opportunity to get an equaliser.
(The Evesham keeper takes the ball easily from Bolehall's Dave Yonwin)
So Evesham win this tie but have been given a scare by a well organised Bolehall team. There reward is a tough home tie against old rivals Stourbridge in the next round.
It's a sunny Bank Holiday Monday (is that a contradiction of terms?) and I have decided to take the train to Chester Road, to take in the local derby between Boldmere St Michaels and Coleshill Town.
Apologies to any followers of this Blog that I have been inactive for a while but I have had big problems with my mobile broadband. It's still not resolved but I have found time to use my computer on the wi-fi network at Worcester Library to write this post.
So it's quite cloudy when I leave Worcester but the sun is out by the time I get to Birmingham. This will be my 5th visit to the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground, having seen Bolmere twice and the Villa ladies team twice too.
There is a good crowd of about 100 people today and I see in the programme that Coleshill feature a few ex Boldmere players.
Boldmere hit the ground running and take the lead from a well placed shot from their No 11, Lee Osbourne. I remember seeing him play for Redditch Utd and Evesham Utd over the last 2 years, so Boldmere have acquired a quality player there.
Coleshill quickly counter but their forwards lobbed effort goes wide (as seen below)
Both teams are putting plenty of effort in to the game but the game needs someone to put their foot on the ball and bring a bit of quality in the final third of the pitch at both ends.
There are no more goal mouth incidents of note in the first-half and the stage is set for an interesting second period.
During the first-half I meet the Boldmere, Commercial Manager, Rob Clarke, who says the club would like some of my photos for their website and I agree to send some later on.
The second-half sees Coleshill pressing hard for an equaliser and Boldmere dangerous on the break.
Coleshill do hit the bar with one effort but otherwise the Boldmere defence are holding out well. In one breakaway, Craig Bannister, the Boldmere No 9 should score but instead shoots straight at the keeper.
There is an exciting finish and in injury time the dangerous Allen of Colehill leaps well to put in a good header on goal but it's well saved by the Boldmere keeper, (seen below).
Then a bit later, the Boldmere No 2, Gorle, scrambles another Coleshill effort off the line.
(Lee Osborne is blocked out by the Coleshill defence)
So it's been a good match to watch in the end and Coleshill can feel a bit unlucky to not take any points from it. Both teams should feature in the top half of the table this season and I can recommend a visit to this lovely ground.
Today I am making my way to the birthplace of 'The Bard', Stratford-upon-Avon. I am taking in the game in the Women's Super League between the home team, Birmingham City and Arsenal.
The weather is mainly sunny interspersed with clouds and not oppressively hot and humid. I have arrived at Stratford's rail station at 1:10 pm and it takes me about 35 minutes walking at a brisk pace to get to the DCS Stadium which Birmingham lease off Stratford Town. It's situated in the village of Tiddington, about 1 mile away from the town. Although it's a Sunday, there are still plenty of tourists around.
So I've made it to the ground with just enough time for a cuppa before the game starts at 2pm.
Arsenal soon take the lead. In the 7th minute, they have a corner and their English international centre-back, Steph Houghton rises up well to head home at the far post.
The Blues are struggling to stem the attacks from this powerful Arsenal team who fail to convert several chances. They aren't to be denied for long though and score their second in the 20th minute.
A powerful free kick from Houghton comes back off a post, the rebound is struck against the bar and eventually the ball is crossed for White to head in off the post.
20 minutes later it looks all over for Birmingham as Arsenal's Davison is left unmarked to stroke the ball home for goal number 3. When half-time arrives I can't see The Blues making a comeback.
Of course I'm wrong as a rejuvenated Birmingham team come out fighting and press strongly. After just 2 minutes Coral Haines strikes the bar with a great shot. About 8 minutes later they score through a deflected shot.
The Blues are having much of the attacking play now and go close to scoring on several occasions but some good, sometimes desperate defending from Arsenal keep them at bay.
It's an absorbing contest now and Arsenal are still dangerous on the counter-attack.
2 experienced International players come on as substitutes. Rachel Williams for Birmingham and later Rachel Yankey for Arsenal. Both have chances too but fail to convert them.
In injury time, Arsenal's young forward Davies, has a shot blocked by Blues keeper Penney.
(Penney, the Birmingham keeper hangs on to the ball under pressure)
So Arsenal are worthy winners thanks to their great 1st-half performance and look to have a good chance to be crowned champions again in a few weeks time. Birmingham can take heart from a worthy 2nd-half fight back and from a good sized crowd of 561 today.
I finally got my football season under way today when I took in the pre-season friendly between Pilkington XXX of the Midland Combination Premier League and Solihull Moors Under-21's side.
Originally I had earmarked the Midland Alliance game at Heath Hayes v Loughborough University as my first game, as it would have been a new ground for me. However I received an email from the Pilkington President, Saul Gray, asking me to come along to their game as there was going to be a special presentation for one of their committee members, a certain, Dennis Ellis, in recognition of his 50 years of service to Non-League football in the Birmingham area and he wanted me to take photos of the occasion. I agreed to go as I like to hear about these kind of stories of dedicated service to the game.
When I set out on the train from Worcester Foregate Street, the weather forecast was of sunshine and showers and the closer we got to Birmingham, the cloudier it got. On the way to my destination at King's Norton it did rain but miraculously stopped just before we reached there.
I arrived at the Triplex Sports Ground in time for the presentation at 1pm. Dennis Ellis was invited to join Pilkington's committee last year and his presentation was set up at the ground for Dennis surrounded by his good wife,family and friends.Dennis was a keen player in the South Birmingham Saturday and Sunday Leagues but unfortunately sustained a severe leg injury which curtailed his playing career at an early age. In his 50 years of service to the game, Dennis has taken on the roles of, Club Secretary, Press Officer, Referee, member of the Birmingham County FA Council, Secretary & Manager of a successful Sunday football team for 13 years AND a kit man. He was instrumental in the rise of the Castle Vale football team too until they folded last year. A successful man of many roles and a gentleman too by all who know him.
Steve Poole, the Vice-Chairman of the Birmingham County FA led the presentation with a speech praising Dennis for his big contribution to Non-League football in the local area and presented him with a special service medal.
(Here is Dennis in the centre with a signed Pilkington XXX shirt, with the club's Committee in attendance and Steve Poole, next to last on the right.Well done Dennis!)
Everyone who attended were well looked after with plenty of refreshments.
(Here, Dennis blows out candles on his 50th Anniversary cake)
So now to Pilkington's final pre-season friendly. There was a final downpour of 10 minutes duration which thankfully ended 10 minutes before the game and then both teams came on to the pitch in their new kits. Pilkington in their red shirts with dark blue shorts and socks and Solihull in a blue and yellow striped kit. I could see that Pilkington had a lot of new faces in their side and mainly younger ones at that. Prior to this game they had won 5 of their 6 previous friendlies too!
The match starts off at a brisk pace with both sides eager to impress and sharpen themselves up for the new season with Pilkington having the lion's share of possession but can't make the most of their early dominance.
Solihull take the lead after 20 minutes and a bit later should have scored a second but one of their forwards makes the mistake of making sure the ball goes over the line and is flagged up for off-side.
In first-half injury time, the Pilkington keeper comes racing out to help clear the ball but only succeeds in clattering in to one of his own defenders.
After a delay of five minutes he manages to get up on his feet. Although walking with a limp he carries on in goal for the rest of the game on one good leg.
So it's 0-1 to Solihull at half-time and still everything to play for.
The attendance today looks to be about 50 and I chat to 2 Solihull supporters. One says that there is not much between the teams but Solihull have the greater threat up-front, which is about right from what I have seen so far. Pilkington's defence thankfully do seem to have improved from last season when they had the worst goal difference in the division.
Again the second-half is played at a good pace and although there are not many chances on goal it's a good competitive game. The No.7 for Pilkington shows a lot of pace and troubles the Solihull defence on several occasions. (Seen below with 2 markers in attendance)
Of course both sides make several substitutions during this half and Solihull score another goal, which I miss while checking over some shots on my camera screen.
( One of the Pilkington substitutes runs at the Solhull defence)
So the game ends with a 2-0 win for the visitors and it's been a worthwhile workout for both sides. On the evidence of this match I think Pilkington should have a better season this time and look forward to seeing them again soon.
I didn't have to travel far today as I just had a 35 minute walk to Worcester City's ground of St. George's Lane for the last game to played there before it's re-developed for housing.
I'm very pleased that the Worcester City Supporter's Trust have arranged a game between teams of legendary players of Worcester and Liverpool to commemorate Worcester City's greatest triumph at this ground, when on the 15th Feb 1959, they defeated Liverpool 2-1 in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup. My father had attended that game and was amazed when he told me that they had a crowd of 15,000+ that day! Liverpool replaced their manager after that defeat, with a Scottish manager called Bill Shankly, so maybe Worcester City did Liverpool a big favour that day.
I was not able to attend the last competitive game at the Lane when Chester were the visitors, so this game more than makes up for it.
The weather is nice and sunny and when I arrive at the front of the ground at 1:40pm (for a 2pm kick-off) I can tell it's going to be a good crowd today. In fact because of the amount of late arrivals at the ground, it's announced that the game will now start at 2:15pm. I have taken a position at the end of the ground nearest the entrance.
There are plenty of Liverpool supporters in the crowd of course, to see the likes of Mark Wright, Paul Walsh, John Wark and John Barnes etc. Worcester also have some 'legends' of their own, the current manager, Carl Heeley, his assistant Matt Gardiner, striker Mark Owen and Andy Awford who went on to play for Portsmouth.
Kick-off time arrives and the game is played at quite a slow pace. An early chance falls to Mark Owen but he places his shot the wrong side of the post.
( Paul Walsh goes down the left wing in this first-half attack)
The game although played at a leisurely pace most of the time, (understandable due to the age of most of the players and the warm conditions) is played in a friendly spirit and it's a great family day out.
( John Wark plays the ball out, watched by the Liverpool supporters)
Half time arrives and it's still 0-0. The crowd is 2,382 and the other good news announced is that talks are progressing well between the Supporters Trust (W.C.S.T.), Worcester Council and St.Modwens (the building company). The Trust are negotiating to get out of the original contract with St. Modwens so that they don't have to have the new stadium built at Nunnery Way on the south side of the city, which will enable them to go ahead with their plan of a community stadium to be built at Perdiswell on the north side of the city.
The game sparks to life in the second period as Liverpool take the lead early on with a goal from Howard Gayle. However, Worcester soon equalise through a well taken goal from Pat Lyons.
After 60 minutes, substitute forward Mark McGregor curls in a shot to put Worcester in the lead. He and Mark Owen are the danger men for Worcester and Paul Walsh and John Durnin for Liverpool. Twice Walsh with good dribbling skills goes close after good runs going past defenders.
(Mark Owen attacks the Liverpool goal watched by John Barnes)
So the 90 minutes are up and Worcester are still unbeaten in matches against the Reds! It's been an enjoyable day and both teams are given generous applause.
(John Barnes leaves the pitch applauded by his opponents)
I can't believe that I won't be coming here again. So it's a journey to Kidderminster to watch the City as we ground share with the Harriers for the 2013-14 season. It will be tough as Manager Carl Heeley knows that his playing budget has been slashed by 40% and already last seasons top scorer, Mick Symons has left for Oxford City.
So goodbye, St George's Lane, you served us well for 108 years and thanks Liverpool for your help in giving it a good send-off.
I am making my way to the historic city of Lichfield today as I have decided to watch the Midland Combination, Presidents Cup Final which is being held at Brownsfield Road, home of Lichfield City FC. This is a cup competition for Combination 1st Division clubs. This gives me an excuse to have a look round Lichfield too as I have not been there for about 4 years.
The weather forecast is not a good one for today so I travel prepared for this, wearing my Berghaus waterproof jacket and portable brolly stowed away in the rucksack.
Unfortunately I don't give myself a lot of time to look around the city centre, after having my dinner it only gives me about 45 minutes before setting off for the football ground. Lichfield has got many listed buildings so if you are a fan of historical architecture, it's worth taking a look!
(This is a view of the Cathedral from the banks of the lake called 'Stowe Pool')
So I make my way past Stowe Pool with views of the Cathedral and St Chad's church and Stowe House at the other end. Then it's about another 10-15 minutes walk to the ground, which is a new one for me.
I pay the £5 entrance fee (programme included) and make my way to the far side of the ground as that is where the sun is shining from although there are some ominous dark clouds approaching.
I have a quick chat with a Villa supporter who has travelled from Tamworth via Villa Park today but he tells me the sad news that they lost 1-2 to Chelsea.
Kick-off time arrives and I am surprised that neither team has decided to play in their away kit as Cadbury Athletic play in purple and Phoenix United play in a mainly dark blue kit, which look a bit similar to each other.
Cadbury start off very well and have the giant's share of possession in the opening stages.
However, in only their second attack, Phoenix have a player brought down in the penalty area when attacking down the right and the referee has no qualms in awarding a penalty. The United No.7 duly dispatches this and Cadbury's are 0-1 down.
Cadbury's best chance comes late on with the Phoenix goalie making a fine block and from the rebound the next shot is blocked by a defender.
Phoenix United have been penned back in their own half for long periods in the first 45 minutes and I think to myself that Cadbury Athletic will win this game if only they can score that first goal! During the first half I chatted a bit with the General Manager of Cadbury Athletic, Graham Thorn. He informs me that his team have failed to take a lot of their chances this season even though they have scored 100+ league goals.
He also tells me that plans are afoot to install floodlights at their Bournville ground although final planning permission is proving to be a problem.
For the first 15 minutes of the second half Phoenix press forward on the Cadbury goal trying to finish off their opponents.
Their attacks come to no avail however and one of their players gets booked for a robust challenge on a Cadbury defender. Play is stopped for several minutes while he gets treatment and the Cadbury goalkeeper is goading one of the Phoenix players. It takes two of his team mates to go over and calm him down before he causes any more trouble!
The weather is very variable today with brilliant sunshine interspersed with squally hail showers and about 3 times I have to take shelter in the nearest small stand.
Cadbury have the majority of play for the remainder of the match and their best chance falls to their No.7 who with only the goalkeeper to beat, steadies himself, takes aim and.....hits the right hand post!
Also a Phoenix player gets sent-off for a second yellow card but Cadbury's have blown it. Well into injury time, Phoenix break away and score a second goal!
(The Phoenix United players celebrate the decisive goal)
A few minutes later the final whistle is blown and the players are presented with their medals and then Phoenix United are given the trophy and proudly display it for their fans.
I'm glad I came for this match, which has seen mostly free flowing attacking football from both teams. Phoenix have taken their chances well and rode their luck which you need in games like this. The attendance today was officially 66.
This will probably be my last match this season although I might go to watch Birmingham Ladies play in the summer, who play at Stratford Town's ground.
